WO2004095976A1

WO2004095976A1 - Slender container

Info

Publication number: WO2004095976A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/009953
Authority: WO
Inventors: Garry Tsaur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-01
Filing date: 2003-04-01
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2005-10-01
Also published as: US20050265768A1; AU2003233467A1; US7220074B2

Abstract

A small slender container that may be used to store a small quantity of fluid (4), such as perfume, in a sealed environment and easily dispenses the fluid (4) as desired is disclosed. The content of the slender container is completely sealed and will not leak or evaporate from the container. The slender container is a small diameter slender container having an elongated housing (1) with an elongated member (3, 31, 32) affixed within the elongated housing (1). The container is opened by an opening means (2) in the form of a score on the container. Breaking open the housing (1) at the score allows the fluid (4) to be released. The elongated member (3, 31, 32) affixed within the housing (1) disrupts the capillary action of the fluid (4) and allows the contents to flow easily from the small diameter slender container. An absorbent material (5, 51, 52) may be attached to the end of the container.

Description

PCT INTERNATIONAL PATENT APPLICATION OF

GARRY TSAUR

FOR

SLENDER CONTAINER

BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a small sealed container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a small slender sealed container that may be used to store and dispense fluids such as perfumes.

BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Small containers in the general form of an elongated tube are generally used to distribute small perfume samples to consumers. Such containers are usually made as small as possible because the perfume samples are expensive and only a very small amount is necessary. However, due to the low specific gravity and the high capillary action of the perfume, there is a limitation to how small of a diameter of the container may be used and still allow the perfume to be dispensed from the container. If the diameter of the container is too small, the perfume cannot be dispensed from the container due to the capillary action of the fluid. If the diameter of the container is large, the perfume in the container can be easily dispensed. However, since the perfume is expensive and only a very small amount is necessary for a sample, a large diameter container is not economical or practical.

There is a point where the diameter of the container is made as small as possible and yet still allows the perfume in the container to be dispensed with ease. Most perfume sample containers are made with diameters at this minimum diameter. However, even at this minimum diameter, the perfume container is still too large and not economical for dispensing perfume samples. Much more perfume than necessary for a sample must still be filled in the container or the container will have a large void that appears to be left from evaporated perfumes.

Although a smaller diameter container is desirable, it has not been possible due to the physical phenomenon of capillary action of the perfume that limits how small a diameter the container may have. The present invention is a simple yet effective means to allow a very small diameter container to be used for dispensing minute amount of perfume samples efficiently and economically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a small slender container that may be used to store small quantity of fluid, such as perfume, in a sealed environment and easily dispenses the fluid as desired. The content of the slender container is completely sealed and will not leak or evaporate from the container. The slender container is a small diameter slender container with a member affixed within the slender container. The member affixed within the slender container disrupts the capillary action of the perfume and allows the content to flow easily from the small diameter slender container. The slender container can be used as the body of a swab and also for storing fluids wherein the fluid in the slender container may be released into the absorbent material attached to the ends of the swab when desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the slender container.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the slender container with an absorbent tip on one end.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the slender container with an absorbent tip on both ends.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the slender container. The slender container has an elongated housing 1 with two ends that are sealed. An opening means 2 in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end. An elongated member 3 with a smaller diameter and shorter length than the elongated housing 1 is inserted into the elongated housing 1 and attached to the sealed end opposite the end near the opening mean of the elongated housing 1. A fluid 4 is sealed within the elongated housing 1 until released through the opening means 2. When the slender container is opened by the opening means 2, the fluid 4 in the slender container is exposed and any physical contact, such as with the user's skin or with an absorbent material such as cotton, with the exposed fluid 4 will release the fluid 4 from the slender container.

An absorbent material such as a cotton ball 5 may be attached to the end of the slender container with the opening means 2 enclosing the opening means 2. When the slender container is opened by the opening means 2, the fluid 4 in the slender container will flow directly into and be absorbed by the cotton ball 5 for application.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the slender container wherein the elongated housing 1 is divided into two compartments by a divider 6. In one compartment, an opening means 2 in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end of said compartment. An elongated member 3 with a smaller diameter and shorter length than said compartment is attached within said compartment to the sealed end opposite the end near the opening mean 2 of said compartment. A fluid 4 is sealed within said compartment until released through the opening means 2. An absorbent material 5 such as a cotton ball is attached to the other end of the other compartment opposite the end where the elongated member 3 attaches. When the slender container is opened by the opening means 2, the fluid 4 in the slender container is exposed and when the absorbent material 5 at the end of the other compartment is brought into contact with the exposed fluid 4, the fluid 4 will be release into the absorbent material 5.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the slender container wherein the elongated housing 1 is divided into two compartments by a divider 6. In one compartment, an opening means 21 in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end of said compartment. An elongated member 31 with a smaller diameter and shorter length than said compartment is attached within said compartment to the sealed end opposite the end near the opening mean 21 of said compartment. A fluid 41 is sealed within said compartment until released through the opening means 21. An absorbent material such as a cotton ball 51 is attached to sealed end of said compartment where the elongated member 31 attaches.

In the other compartment, an opening means 22 in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end of said compartment near the opening means 21 of the first compartment. An elongated member 32 with a smaller diameter and shorter length than said compartment is attached within said compartment to the sealed end opposite the end near the opening mean 22 of said compartment. A fluid 42 is sealed within said compartment until released through the opening means 22. An absorbent material such as a cotton ball 52 is attached to sealed end of said compartment where the elongated member 32 attaches.

When the slender container is opened by the opening means 21, the fluid 41 in the slender container is exposed and when the absorbent material 52 at the end of the other compartment is brought into contact with the exposed fluid 41, the fluid 41 will be release into the absorbent material 52. When the slender container is opened by the opening means 22, the fluid 42 in the slender container is exposed and when the absorbent material 51 at the end of the other compartment is brought into contact with the exposed fluid 42, the fluid 42 will be release into the absorbent material 51. The fluids 41, 42 in the two compartments may be of the same type of fluid or of different types of fluids.

The slender container of the present invention allows small amount of fluid 4 that evaporates easily, such as perfumes, to be stored in a sealed environment to prevent evaporation. The fluid 4 may be released easily through the opening means 2 by simply breaking open the housing at the scoring to allow the fluid 4 to be exposed. Without the elongated member 3 in the present invention, the fluid 4 within the slender container will not be released from the slender container due to the small diameter of the slender container and the resulting capillary action and atmospheric pressure, which will prevent the exit of the fluids 4 from the slender container.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A slender container comprising: a sealed elongated housing with one or more opening means; and an elongated member enclosed within and affixed to one end of the sealed elongated housing; wherein the slender container may be used to store and dispense small amount of fluid through the opening means.

2. A slender container as in claim 1, wherein the opening means is a scoring that can be broken open to release the fluid in the slender container.

3. A slender container as in claim 1, wherein the fluid is perfume.

4. A slender container as in claim 1, wherein the elongated member is a hollow tube.

5. A slender container as in claim 1, wherein the opening means is covered with an applicator such as a brush, a ball of cotton, or a sponge.

6. A slender container as in claim 2, wherein the opening means is covered with an applicator such as a brush, a ball of cotton, or a sponge.

7. A slender container as in claim 3, wherein the opening means is covered with an applicator such as a brush, a ball of cotton, or a sponge.

8. A slender container comprising: a sealed elongated housing with a first compartment and a second compartment with an opening means at one end of said first compartment; and an elongated member enclosed within said first compartment and affixed to one end of said first compartment of the sealed elongated housing; wherein the slender container may be used to store and dispense small amount of fluid through the opening means.

9. A slender container as in claim 8, wherein the opening means is a scoring that can be broken open to release the fluid in the slender container.

10. A slender container as in claim 8, wherein the fluid is perfume.

11. A slender container as in claim 8, wherein the elongated member is a hollow tube.

12. A slender container as in claim 8, wherein an applicator such as a brush, a ball of cotton, or a sponge encloses the end of the second compartment opposite the first compartment.

13. A slender container comprising: a sealed elongated housing with a first compartment and a second compartment with an opening means at one end of said first compartment and an opening means at one end of the said second compartment near the first compartment; a first elongated member enclosed within said first compartment and affixed to one end of said first compartment of the sealed elongated housing opposite the second compartment; and a second elongated member enclosed within said second compartment and affixed to one end of said second compartment of the sealed elongated housing opposite the first compartment; wherein the slender container may be used to store and dispense small amount of fluid through the opening means.

14. A slender container as in claim 13, wherein the first and second opening means are scorings that can be broken open to release the fluid in the slender container.

15. A slender container as in claim 13, wherein the fluid is perfume.

16. A slender container as in claim 13, wherein the elongated member is a hollow tube.

17. A slender container as in claim 13, wherein an applicator such as a brush, a ball of cotton, or a sponge encloses the end of the second compartment opposite the first compartment and also the end of the first compartment opposite the second compartment.